W. Klitschko will face Mormeck on Dec. 10 in Germany

Wladimir Klitschko will face Jean-Marc Mormeck on Dec. 10 at the ESPIRIT Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany, it was officially announced Thursday.

Klitschko (56-3, 49 knockouts) will be making the 11th defense of the IBF heavyweight title, which he won in 2006 by knocking out Chris Byrd. He has since picked up the RING, WBA and WBO titles as well.

The Ukrainian is coming off a one-sided decision over David Haye on July 2 in Hamburg, Germany.

Mormeck (36-4, 22 KOs) is a former three-time cruiserweight titleholder who lost the WBC and WBA belts to Haye by a seventh-round knockout in 2007. The 39-year-old Frenchman then took two years off and moved up to the heavyweight division, in which he’s 3-0, with decision victories over Vinney Maddalone, Fres Oquendo and Timur Ibragimov.

Mormeck is 5-foot-11½ (181cm) and weighed 216 (98.2 kilos), 216¼ (98.3) and 215½ (98) for those fights. In contrast, Klitschko is 6-6 (198cm) and weighed 242½ (110.2) against Haye.

“I know that I am the favorite in all my fights but I also know that each opponent is motivated to be in the best shape ever when he fights me,” Klitschko said in a news release. “Mormeck is one of the most experienced fighters I have ever faced. He has had many world title fights, has a very good technique, can take a lot of punches and is very intelligent inside the ring. To underestimate him would be a fatal mistake.

“I am very happy to return to the ESPRIT Arena, where I fought against Eddie Chambers. The spectators and the atmosphere for that fight were great and I am sure it will be again this time.”

Said Mormeck: “I can imagine what the odds will look like for me against Wladimir Klitschko. But I know my skills. What I missed out against Haye I will now do with him. Wladimir has a glass chin, which I will break. He cannot stand punches. Against his brother Vitali, I would have thought longer about fighting him, but against Wladimir, I believe I have very good chances. On Dec. 11, I will travel back to Paris with a suitcase full of championship belts. I enjoy being the underdog in this fight and I will shock the boxing world!”

The fight will be broadcast live on RTL in Germany and also shown in 120 countries worldwide.

The official ticket sale starts on www.eventim.deon Oct. 12. Tickets are available from 20 Euro. The ESPIRIT Arena is the home field of the soccer club FortunaDüsseldorf.